Tailpiece retaining means



y 1931. A. R. SWEARINGEN 1,803,661

TAILPIECE RETAINING MEANS Filed Feb 7, 1950 2 SheetsSheet 1 Inventor May5, 1931. A. R SWEARiNGEN 31,853,561

TAILPIECE RETAINING MEANS F le 7, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 InventorPatented May 5, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALFRED R. SWEARINGEN,OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-EIGHTH TO HELEN M. REARDON, OF MIAMI,FLORIDA, AND ONE-FOURTH T0 ALBERT QUADOW, OF

MIAMI, FLORIDA TAILPIECE RETAINING MEANS Application filed February 7,1930. Serial No. 426,658.

This invention relates to certain refinements and improvements embodiedin the construction of tailpieces of the type employed in associationwith stringed instruments, particularly of that family embodying theviolin, viola, cello, and double bass.

It is a matter of common knowledge that the conventional tailpiece is ofebony or analogous material and constructed at the inner end withkey-hole shaped openings for anchorage of the strings, and provided atthe opposite ends with a gut loop which is engaged with a headedretention pin on the butt of the body of the instrument.

In its underside the tailpiece is formed adjacent the gut end with apocket-like recess having a pair of spaced parallel bores for passage ofthe ends of the retaining gut and these ends are fastened in place indif ferent manners. For instance by clamps, screws, knots, and wrappedthreads.

The present invention relies for its novelty upon an improved andrefined means for attaching the end portions of the gut loop or noose tothe anchored end of the tailpiece.

More specifically stated, the inventive conception involves theutilization of an appropriately shaped and constructed metal plate whichis associated with the recess in the underside of the tailpiece andconstructed to permit the terminal ends of the an choring gut to providea dependable means and method of attaching said ends to the tailpiece.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a conventional violin showing theposition of the tailpiece.

Figure 2 is a side view and a fragmentary elevation showing thetailpiece embodying the features of this invention.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the tailpiece embodying the featuresof this invention.

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 5.5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the types of gut fastening orretaining plates.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are views showing modified types of plates.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the end portion of the tailpiece and theassociation of the anchoring gut.

In the drawings, in Figure 2, the reference character 11 designates thebody of a conventional violin, 12 the springs, 13 the tailpiece, 14 thelooped anchoring gut, and 15 the headed retaining plug or pin on thebutt end of the body.

As seen in Figure 5, the tailpiece is formed with the customary recessedpocket 16 and the spaced parallel passages or bores 17 for the terminalends 18 of the gut loop.

The gist of the invention, as before stated, is in the provision of thefastening plate which as shown in Figure 6 is generally designated bythe numeral 19. It is preferably of flat form and pointed configurationand one end is doubled upon itself as indicated at 20 and terminates ina right-angularly disposed semi-circular guide and abutment 21. Thisabutment engages the shoulder in one end of the recess 16 as observed inFigure 5, and is constructed to permit the passage of the ends 18 of theloops 14.

In the primary form of the invention, the edge portions of the plate areprovided with wedge-shaped notches 22 in which the ends of the gut arefirmly fastened in an obvious manner. In this way the guide 21 abuts oneend of the recess and the plate overlies the recess forming a covertherefor.

At this time, I call attention to Figures 7, 8 and 9 wherein diversifiedforms of the plate are shown. The plate 23 in Figure 7 is provided witha pair of holes 24 through which the terminal ends of the gut may bepassed and knotted for secure fastening.

The plate 25 in Figure 8 is provided at its edge portion withsemi-circular notches 26 in which the knotted ends (not shown) may befastened.

The plate in Figure 9 is designated by the 1 in connection with thedrawings will enable the reader to obtain a clear understanding of theconstruction and features and advantages of the invention. Therefore, amore lengthy description is regarded unnecessary.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials and rearrangement of featurescoming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to inactual practice if desired.

I claim:

1. In a stringed musical instrument accessory of the class described, atailpiece provided at one end with a recess and spaced parallelcommunicating bores, an anchoring loop having its end portions passingforwardly through said bores and arranged in said recess a separateplate covering said recess and contacting with the underside of theadjacent portion of the vtailpiece and provided with means forattachment of the terminal ends of said anchoring loop thereto.

2. As a new product of manufacture, a tailpiece accessory constructedfor fastening the terminal ends of a gut loop to said tailpiececomprising a plate designed to cover the conventional recess in theunderside of the tailpiece, one end of said plate being bent upon itselfand formed with a terminal abutment, the body portion of the plate beingprovided with means for attachment of the terminal ends of said loop.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

ALFRED R. SWEARINGEN.

